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Mainstream political parties are increasingly allowing the far right to set the public discourse, as per a new research carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has unwittingly helped far-right groups by legitimising their ideas and disseminating them more widely.

Study Drawing from Two Decades of Media Reporting

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an automated text analysis of over 520,000 articles from six national newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the far right shifted from fringe issues in the 1990s era to central themes like integration and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their messaging in reaction.

This adaptation boosted the spread of these concepts and indicated to the electorate that such positions were legitimate.

Implications for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by established parties plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," stated a political sociologist involved in the study.

"This element has been underestimated," she added.

The impact was noticeable even when conventional parties were condemning the far right. "They still receive focus," the expert remarked. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is crucial."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Across Europe

While the study was focused on the German context, this normalisation effect is probable to apply to countries throughout the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," said another researcher. "Radical groups makes a statement and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

"Although you're countering it, you're echoing it," he added.

Toughening of Public Discourse

At times, political figures have also toughened their discourse to match that of the radical right.

In a recent interview, a then national leader advocated large-scale deportations and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Comparable examples can be found throughout Europe, as politicians from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to France adopt the rhetoric of the far right, especially on immigration.

This has formed an feedback loop that was unthinkable a decade ago.

Core Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about cultural issues – immigration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Some parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline platform of the far right, despite research suggests that this approach leads the electorate to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

The extent of data collected revealed that the impact of radical groups had been progressive and had grown over time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," commented a researcher. "But if you hear this pessimistic narrative around immigration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for example, by established parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Established Groups to Develop Their Distinct Narratives

The study highlighted the necessity for established political parties to carve out their distinct narratives, particularly on subjects such as immigration and integration, instead of constantly following the far right.

"It's like a dance," explained one researcher. "When the leader is far-right and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which music should be heard."